Utah Veteran Housing and Tax Programs

Veterans Homes
There are four state-operated Veterans Homes located in the state of Utah. They are located in the communities of Salt Lake City, Ogden, Payson, and Ivins. While wartime service is not a requirement for admission to the nursing homes, wartime veterans with one day or more of wartime service, as recognized by state and federal laws, have top priority. A veteran’s spouse or surviving spouse may also qualify for admittance to the Utah State Veterans Nursing Homes, providing the marriage to the veteran occurred at least one year before the application.

In state-owned veterans homes, the VA pays for nearly one half the cost of care for the resident. In certain instances of service connected disabilities, 100% of the cost of care is paid.

Property Tax Abatement
A Utah permanent place-of-residence property tax exemption equivalent to the military service-connected disability rating percentage is provided for disabled veterans or for their unremarried widows or minor orphans.

Veteran's disability rating must be at least 10%. The maximum property tax exemption is $244,064 in taxable value, based on percentage of disability.

Armed Forces Property Tax Exemption
The state provides a property tax exemption for members of active or reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces who perform qualifying active-duty military service. For the purposes of this tax exemption, “Qualifying Active Duty Service” is defined as a minimum of 200 days in a calendar year, regardless of whether they were performed consecutively, or 200 consecutive days of active service that may cross over into a second calendar year but has not been applied toward the count for the previous year’s taxes. The amount of the tax exemption is equal to the total taxable value of the claimant’s real property.

Utah Veteran Employment Programs

Veterans Job Preference
Eligible veterans or un-remarried spouses are granted either 5 or 10 points, as applicable, for employment preference, added to the results of any written &/or oral exam or other related qualifying technique, by any Utah government entity (state, county, municipality, special district or other political subdivision or administration).

Utah Veteran Education Assistance Programs

Tuition Waiver for Purple Heart Recipients
Purple Heart recipients are eligible for a tuition waiver at all public institution of higher learning in Utah. This benefit can be used toward a degree up to and including a Masters Degree. To receive this benefit the Veteran must submit proof that they are a Purple Heart recipient to the State Institution they are attending.

Scott B Lundell Tuition Waiver for Military Members' Surviving Dependents
Surviving dependants of service members killed in action on or after September 11, 2001 are eligible for a tuition waiver at state schools.

Honorary High School Diplomas
Veterans from WWII, Korea and Vietnam who left High School for military service are eligible to receive Honorary High School Diplomas from the school they left. Contact the local school district for information on how to receive the diploma.

Utah State Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park
Located at 17111 Camp Williams Road in Bluffdale. This states veteran's cemetery generally follows the eligibility requirements of VA National Cemetery System, including: any U.S. Armed Forces active personnel dying while performing duty or after having served during wartime. Reservist and National Guard retired personnel with 20 years of service are eligible for burial also. Surviving spouses and dependent children also are eligible to be buried in the Utah State Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park, under rules established by the state of Utah. Authorized in 1988 by act of the Utah State Legislature, dedication occurred on Memorial Day, 1990. Veterans are not to be buried in any portion of any cemetery or burial ground used for paupers; cities, towns, counties or other political subdivisions of the state of Utah may provide proper sites for burial of veterans.

Free Use of Armories
Organizations of war veterans are entitled to have free use of state of Utah armories as meeting places, provided such use shall not interfere with the use of armories by the National Guard or organized militia of Utah.